Archive for the ‘News’ Category

The student representatives for the ACUA are now releasing a quarterly newsletter ACUA Student geared toward all underwater archaeology students, undergraduate or graduate! These newsletters will contain great information on current student research, upcoming conferences, field school opportunities, and ways to advance your professional career.

The Illyrian Coastal Exploration Program would like to invite individuals interested in Mediterranean archaeology to apply for the 2013 underwater sciences field school. Set along the beautiful Dalmatian coast from July 8-21, the course spends one week each in Croatia and Montenegro. The field school is hosted by the International Centre for Underwater Archaeology in Zadar in collaboration with RPM Nautical Foundation and Transylvania University.

Students will work with the international team to learn the basics of underwater archaeology and coastal ecology. This course is suitable for beginners, especially undergraduates and masters students. Participants will learn survey methods, underwater recording, and help with ongoing research. There will even be a chance to see advanced methods up close with a visit to the deep sea research vessel *Hercules*. The field school will explore shipwrecks dating from the 4th century BC through modern times and record artifacts from many different time periods. Though the field school is a general survey of maritime archaeology topics, students will leave with a good understanding of the fundamental theories and practical techniques used by archaeologists.

A ten day field school is offered through the Albanian Center for Marine Research from July 23-August 2. This field school will explore the fantastic shipwrecks of southern Albania, ranging from the 5th century BC through World War II. Albania offers untouched submerged sites due to the former communist government’s complete restriction on diving, making Albanian diving today similar to 1950s Mediterranean diving at large: pristine and full of underwater heritage. Students and staff will be housed in small local hotel in Saranda, directly across from the island of Corfu and near the Butrint UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The Center is also offering an AAUS scientific diving course. If you arelooking to upgrade your recreational/sport diver certification in order to work or help out on university or professional projects, AAUS scientific diving teaches “everything but the hard hat.” After this course you won’t just know how to dive, you will know how to work underwater. This intensive course will be from June 20-July 3 in beautiful southern Albania.

CURATOR FOR EDUCATION AND VOLUNTEERS for the world’s largest collection of US Navy historic ships.

Battleship Cove (southeastern Massachusetts) is seeking an experienced, dynamic professional to lead all educational initiatives and supervise expanding education programs. Candidate should possess a creative and enthusiastic personality to rejuvenate and supervise our successful Overnight Camping Program, coordinate volunteers, as well as direct and expand the visitor’s learning experience to enhance their overall visit. Candidates must also be able to design curricula, initiate education programs and develop interpretive materials.

Credentials: Applicant must have a teaching qualification and a minimum of two years experience of working in a museum environment. Experience working with and leading volunteers essential. A BA degree is required, as well as evidence of experience in educational programs and/or museum studies. A knowledge of or interest in maritime history would be an advantage but the experience of teaching other disciplines such as science or literacy would also be welcomed.

It’s time for the annual MUA fund raising ebay event! Get your Christmas shopping done early and help the MUA continue to support underwater archaeology public outreach around the world. Please visit our ebay page and treat yourself to some off the wall clothing and books. We’re adding new items all the time so check back again over the next few days and thanks for your support!

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senator John Kerry (D-Mass.) introduced legislation recently that would amend the R.M.S. Titanic Maritime Memorial Act of 1986 to protect the wreck site of the Titanic from salvage and intrusive research.

“We’re closing in on one hundred years this month since the tragic sinking of the Titanic that has captured the interest and imagination of people worldwide. I think it’s important to remember that this site on the floor of the Atlantic is a place where so many went to their deaths. It’s hallowed ground, not just some underwater area to be poked at or damaged for commercial reasons,” said Sen. Kerry. “This bill provides the authority necessary to help ensure the site of the Titanic is kept intact.”

One hundred years ago this April 15th, the R.M.S. Titanic sank on its maiden voyage. Shortly after the Titanic was discovered in 1985, Congress enacted the R.M.S. Titanic Maritime Memorial Act of 1986. The 1986 Act specifically directed the Secretary of State to negotiate an international agreement to designate the Titanic an international maritime memorial and for research, exploration, and salvage of the Titanic to be consistent with relevant guidelines.

Faced with imminent destruction, the junk will be saved. More than four years after I launched efforts to save the Free China, and nearly 57 years after his historic trans-Pacific crossing from Taiwan to San Francisco, the junk will make its return trip to Taiwan later this spring, where it will be preserved as an museum exhibit there, thanks to the Taiwan government. The junk– which is the oldest Chinese wooden sailing vessel and last of its kind in existence– will generate awareness of Chinese maritime achievement and culture and the Chinese diaspora. There are several unique aspects of this preservation project.

First, the movement of the junk to Taiwan will be an extremely complicated and delicate task. The junk will be fit with a temporary cradle and transported to Antioch aboard a truck (requiring possible road closures and police escorts) for its journey to Antioch, where a stronger cradle will be built to ensure the safe transportation of the now-frail vessel. From Antioch, the junk will then be loaded onto a barge and then lifted by crane onto a freighter ship for the ocean crossing. The Taiwan government is in the process of making plans for a farewell reception to see the junk off.

The Free China about to pass under the Golden Gate Bridge (Photo courtesy of The Oakland Tribune).

Second, while the maritime world is dominated by men and the Free China’s crew was all male, women are playing key roles in ensuring the success of this preservation project. Diane Shipway, of Parker Diving Service, is a marine salvage operations expert, and will be in charge of managing the complex logistics involved in transporting the junk. Yiching Lin, Consular Officer with the Taiwan Economic and Cultural Office, is representing the government of Taiwan in its mission to ensure the safe return of the junk. Diana Waldie, manager of the Marine Emporium boatyard where the junk has remained since it was abandoned there several years ago, has continued to keep an eye on the old vessel. And finally, this project is the fulfillment of my dream of saving this forgotten piece of history. After my father’s death in the fall of 2007, I tracked down the junk and found it on the verge of destruction, and decided to launch a non-profit organization, Chinese Junk Preservation (www.chinesejunkpreservation.com) to save the junk in honor of my father, and with the hope of inspiring others to appreciate and preserve their family history.

Third, the junk has succeeded in surviving to this day because of the goodwill and love of a hugely interesting cast of local personalities and organizations on both sides of the Pacific, including the surviving members of the crew and their families, the Taiwan government, the National Park Service, Chinese Historical Society of America, National Trust for Historic Preservation, and interest by the media, whose coverage enabled us to broadcast our search for a new owner and “safe harbor” for the Free China. Historic preservation is an enormously challenging task, and the story of the Free China is a happy one of cooperation. I am grateful for the help of many.